The Thracian treasure from Rogozen is said to be Bulgaria's
archaeological find of the previous century or as many archaeologists say: "The
horn of plenty was poured out over Bulgaria once again in 1986, when that
great treasure was found."
Its uniqueness gave the archaeologists much
material to work on, as it revealed some ancient secrets unknown until
now. The exclusive find is
now strictly guarded in the Vratsa History Museum, which offers its visitors
a rare journey through the ancient world of Thracian art.
If you want
to see Bulgaria's treasure of the 20th century, you should visit Vratsa,
located at the foot of Vratsa Mountain, famous for its ancient history
and beautiful
nature. The region
is also famous for its world-renowned Ledenika cave.
The Rogozen treasure, the largest Thracian treasure found so far, dated to
the pre-Hellenistic Age, is one of the most interesting things in this northern
town. |
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Ivan Dimitrov, from the village of Rogozen, found the first
65 silver vessels while digging in his garden. Just a few days after that
the major excavations
began, and the other items of the treasure came to light for the people.
The "find of the century" represents a collection of 165 beautifully
worked silver vessels. It is believed to have belonged to a rich Thracian family
involved in the ruling of the Triballi tribe. There are 108 phials included in
the treasure. Some of them are decorated with geometrical and plant ornaments.
A total of 54 jugs are included in the Rogozen treasure as well. Some experts
say that these unique vessels could have been produced only by the local tribe.
Their ornamentation divides the Rogozen jugs into two varieties: jugs decorated
with geometrical, plant and animal ornaments and motifs, and jugs decorated with
mythological scenes.
Archaeologists say that before the Rogozen treasure came to light there was no
certain idea about a Thracian iconography of the Great Goddess. Yet now the Rogozen
treasure shows its domestic image. The other deity is depicted as a horseman
in different scenes and actions. The most characteristic of them is the 'boar
hunt'. |
The treasure is said to have been made, collected and added
to over a long period, from the end of the 6th century BC to the mid-4th
century BC in the course of about 150 years. It was found hidden in the
earth because of the danger of the campaigns threatened to be undertaken
by the Macedonian rulers.
Three goblets are also among the greatest ever found, but they are different
in form and ornamentation. On the largest of them is a picture of a solemn procession
of animals: a bird of prey holding a fish in its beak and a hare in its talons;
a bearded he-goat with huge horns is before it and there are three stags in front.
Specialists are now busy studying these great pieces of art. They focus on the
composition of the silver, the technique of working and chiselling it, and the
detailed deciphering and explanation of the inscriptions. The scenes and images
will be deciphered in the language of art, if the right cipher is found.
This treasure also gives historians the chance to look for the real place of
the Triballi and their culture in antiquity and amid other peoples and cultures.
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Thracian
tomb – Kazanlak
One of the most famous monuments of Thracian culture, included in the World Register
of Historical Sites in 1979, was discovered in 1944. A corridor, 1.95m in
length, 1.12m in width and 2.24m in height, leads to a domed tomb, 3.25m
in height and 2.65m in diameter at the base. The building material is brick,
used two centuries later by the Romans. The frame is of blocks of stone, and
clay
is used as bonding material. It is situated in the southern part of a mound,
at ground level. |
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The entrance is from the south side. The tomb became world
famous with its unique mural, done in wet fresco and tempera. The artistic
decoration
covers an area of 40 sq m, and is an extraordinary art gallery, taking
the visitor far back in time. The pictures show battles and scenes
from
daily life, realistically displayed, with great dynamism and details in
the clothing and armour. The scenes of funeral procession, the musicians,
the Thracian ruler and his wife, the chariots, the horses and other depictions
are all very interesting. The tomb dates from the late IV c. - early III
c. BC. Nearby an exact copy has been built for tourists. |
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Thracian
tomb – Sveshtari
It dates back to the III c. B.C. and is included in the World Register
of Historical Sites in 1985. It consists of three chambers - an entrance
chamber and two antechambers. It is covered by a mound. The decoration
of the burial chamber is exceptionally interesting, a unique blend of art
and architecture.
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The stone architrave, around the walls, is supported by ten
caryatids. The wall opposite the door is painted in navy blue crayon and
depicts the heroicisation of the deceased. |
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The Horseman
of Madara - Madara
A relief, portraying a life-size horseman followed by a dog, is carved
on a cliff, about 100m high. The relief covers an area of 23 sq m. A dying
lion is pictured at the feet of the horse. |
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Greek inscriptions around the figure tell of Bulgarian rulers
and important events. This is a rare monument, dating from the VIII – IX
c. AD. It is a unique symbol of young Bulgaria. The scene has been depicted
realistically and without any unnecessary details. The work displays early
Bulgarian medieval art. It was included in the World Register of Historical
Sites in 1979. |
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The Church
at Boyana – Sofia
It is one of the most important and valuable antiquities, of exceptional
historical and artistic significance. It is situated at the foot of the
mountain of Vitosha.
The oldest part of the church dates back to the early XI c. According to
an original manuscript, in 1295 the two-storey part of the church was built,
and the rest was added in the middle of the XIX c. |
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The most interesting parts of the monument are the murals
done in 1259. The frescoes are rich in tone. The artist skilfully combines
the requirements of iconographical canons with real life. 89 scenes are
depicted, containing 240 human images - a real art gallery of the XIII
c. The portraits of the founder of the church, patron Kaloian and his wife
Desislava and of prince Konstantin and his wife Irina, are the pinnacle
of the skill of the artist. The monument was included in the World Register
of Historical and Natural Sites in 1979. |
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Rock Monasteries
- Ivanovo
This is an area where a number of mediaeval churches, monastic cells and
chapels were carved on both sides of the river Lom. A colony of hermits
lived here from the III c. to the XVII c. The natural vesicles in the karst
rocks were widened and moulded to meet the needs of the colony. The chambers
are at a height of 6-10m, and are connected by series of stairs, passages,
galleries. |
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The walls are covered with pictures of biblical themes and
compositions with many figures. Great artistic value, refined colour scheme
and admirable skill are displayed. The partly conserved frescoes are evidence
of the notable achievements of the Bulgarian mediaeval art school. The
remaining scriptures emphasise the significance of the literary school
which developed in this area. The monasteries were included in the World
Register of Historical Sites in 1979. |
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The Rila
Monastery
This monastery is a holy place for all Bulgarians, for it preserved their
pride, national identity, faith and hope through the centuries. It was
founded in the X c. by followers of the Bulgarian hermit Saint Ivan Rilski.
The monastery is one of the most significant cultural centres in Bulgaria,
where through the centuries intensive spiritual, educational and creative
activities flourished. It was in close contact with spiritual centres abroad.
After a devastating fire, the monastery was completely rebuilt in the XIX
c. It is the biggest renaissance monument in Bulgaria. |
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An architectural and artistic composition of enormous dimensions,
it is the apogee of the work of renaissance craftsmen, icon painters, wood
carvers, artisans in the artistic area where architecture and the decorative
and monumental painting of stone, wood and metal are combined. The defensive
tower of Khrelio, built in the XIV c., is located in the yard.
The Monastery is still in use. There is a sumptuous library, a historical
museum and a few subject museum exhibition. The church was painted by the
most famous representatives of the Bulgarian renaissance artistic school.
The Rila monastery was included in the World Register of Historical Sites
in 1983. |
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Old Nesebar
Situated on a peninsula in the Black Sea, connected with the mainland by
a narrow isthmus, this is a town with a history going back millennia. Each
era has left its permanent marks, and today the town is unique, a huge
museum displaying the way of life of the different people that have inhabited
it. |
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On this tiny island, castle walls from Thracian times, defensive
structures, private and public buildings from the Hellenistic period, mediaeval
churches and renaissance buildings combine to form a unique atmosphere.
Nearby is the famous Black Sea resort of Slunchev Briag. |
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The churches were built during the early Byzantine period (V-VI) and
during the middle ages (X-XIV). The oldest of them are the basilicas, cruciform
with a single nave. The murals from the XIV-XVIII c. have an exceptional
historic and artistic value, displaying the traditions and craftsmanship
of the artisans and icon painters of that time. Old Nesebar was included
in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1983. |
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The Nature
Reserve - Sreburna
Sreburna was included in the list of biosphere nature reserves under the
aegis of UNESCO in 1977, and in 1983 it was included in the World Register
of Natural Heritage. It is situated in northern Bulgaria, at the delta
of the river Danube. It is a lake, 1.5m deep, fed by water from the river
and karst water. The temperature of the water during winter is 0°C,
and in the summer up to 28°C. The natural habitat favours the growth
of a wide variety of animal and plant species. Of great interest are the
160 species of birds, 90 of which nest and breed here. |
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Sreburna is a stopping place for many migratory birds. It
possesses one of the four known colonies of the curly-headed pelican in
Europe. There is also a considerable colony of herons and other rare water
birds. There are many species of mammals, river animals and plants. The
reserve covers an area of 8,000 decares. In the vicinity there is a nature
museum and an ecological research station. |
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Pirin National
Park
The main ridge of the mountains is aligned from north-west to south-south-east.
It is about 80km long and 40km wide. It covers an area of 2,585 sq km of
exceptional natural beauty - high peaks, many glacial massifs, 176 lakes.
About 90% of these lakes are more than 2,100m above sea level. 119 of them
were created by glaciers. The most famous of these are: Popovo lake, Kremenskite
lakes, Valiavihkite lakes, Vlahinskite lakes, Bunderishkite lakes, Vasilashkite
lakes. The sharply contoured landscape and the blend of Central European
and mediterranean climates ensure a wide variety of flora and fauna. In
1962 part of the mountain was proclaimed as a national park, initially
named Vihren, and later on renamed Pirin. Noting the uniqueness of the
park and its global significance, UNESCO included it in the World Register
of Natural Heritage. |
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The park covers an area of 26,479.8 hectares, and is the
largest in the country. It includes parts of the mountains which are more
than 1,000m above sea level, with unique ecosystems, areas with specific
geomorphology, a large number of Bulgarian and Balkan endemites and relics.
There are a few trees declared to be natural heritage, including the Baikusheva
white fir, more than 1,200 years old, 16m high and with a circumference
of 5.70m.
The park also contains 70 glacial lakes, many caves, waterfalls, majestic
abysses and cliffs. The areas of natural beauty include the Bunderishki
caves, Kasana, Kioshkata, the rock formation Pirostiata, the Demianishki
Skok and Iulenski Skok waterfalls, the natural reserve Baiuvi Dupki - Jinjiritsa,
etc. The mountain is almost impassable. Roads have been made from Bansko,
Sandanski, Gotze Delchev, etc. |
